The
newly revitalized Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach celebrated Earth
Day on April 21 with its first plant sale of the year. Agromin, in
partnership with Rainbow Environmental Services of Huntington Beach, donated
over 20 full pallets of organic potting soil, vegetable soil, top dressing,
small bark and walk on bark for the occasion--23 tons total! The pallets were
delivered and set up for use at the plant sale on Saturday and were a huge
hit. The center also used the bags as part of its membership drive: each
person who signed up on Saturday to become a member received a free bag of
premium soil or bark.

The
Shipley Nature Center sits on 18 acres in the middle of housing subdivisions
and shopping centers. The center was opened in 1974 but was neglected
over the years and was soon overrun with invasive non-native plants. With donations, grants and mostly volunteer
labor, the center is now a showplace. It includes 4,000 feet of
well-maintained trails that lead through several habitats, including oak
woodlands, Torrey pines, meadows and Blackbird Pond, a natural freshwater
wetland with mature willows and sycamores. There is also a 1,500 square
foot interpretive building with exhibits on local wildlife and ecology.

Over
100 local students visit the center each day and those numbers can at least
quadruple on holidays and during the summer months.

The
event was a big success and Agromin and Rainbow are proud to be donors.

For more information
on the center, go to www.shipleynature.org.
Agromin's
earth-friendly products are available in Orange County at Rainbow Disposal in
Huntington Beach. Visit Rainbow Environmental Services at www.rainbowdisposal.com.